| "Naked Eyes" : Analysis of the "Naked Eyes" Arc of ABC-TV's Port Charles
(c) Alison Armstrong |
| An analysis of the "Naked Eyes" episodes of the show Port Charles, formerly of ABC-TV. This site will focus on the scenes featuring the vampire character Caleb Morley/Stephen Clay (portrayed by actor Michael Easton). The character of Caleb Morley/Stephen Clay and any other characters relating to Port Charles are the property of ABC and their creators. This is a fan-run site and is not an official site, nor is it affiliated in any way with ABC, Port Charles, or the actors portraying any of the Port Charles characters. No copyright infringement is intended. The writings on this site are copyrighted by the author, Alison Armstrong, and may not be reproduced without the author's express permission. |
| "Naked Eyes" #9 (cont.) When Elizabeth suggests that having dinner together doesn’t sound like such a good idea, Stephen replies that dinner would be fine with him as long as Rafe is OK with it. Saying that he believes in “second chances,” Stephen pretends to accept Rafe’s insincere apology for interrupting the concert and agrees to let Rafe treat them all to a dinner at a trendy new restaurant in town. His comment about “second chances” is a jab at Rafe’s relentless, unyielding pursuit of him. As at the concert, Stephen presents himself as a forgiving, good-natured fellow. Although Rafe is using the dinner invitation as a way to expose Stephen as a vicious vampire, he ends up revealing himself to be a paranoid, delusional stalker. “You sure you can handle dinner with a vampire?” Stephen jokes, masking his unease with humor. “Oh, yeah, I’ll be fine as long as I’m not the main course,” Rafe retorts, as both, with forced smiles, walk out the door and head towards the restaurant. At the restaurant Stephen and Rafe continue to conceal their animosity with grimacing grins and hollow laughter as each tries to get the other to show his true nature. Rafe, predictably, starts the evening at a disadvantage by failing to make dinner reservations, an especially foolish oversight if one wishes to eat at a new, trendy restaurant that is apt to be fully booked. Stephen’s fame, however, gains them seating, when the hostess, recognizing the rock star, finds them all a private dining area in the back. On the way to their table, Stephen, also recognized by an enthusiastic admirer, showcases his fan-friendly generosity by warmly greeting his devotee and signing an autograph. While Rafe and Alison discuss the “game” Stephen is playing with them, Stephen and Elizabeth savor a few moments alone together in the dining room. When she apologizes for involving him in this crazy situation, he reassures her that “some things are worth it” and kisses her. He crouches down beside her, rubbing his hand lightly across his face, as if he were licking the lingering taste of her upon his flesh. His movements--sensual, supple—evoke the deadly grace of a feline predator. The motions of Alison and Rafe as they enter the room seem clumsy in contrast, highlighting the difference between the aesthetic seductiveness of the vampire and the drab inelegance of ordinary humans. Caleb, posing as human, must attempt to conceal his vampire mannerisms and gifts, adopting the gestures, clichés, and social behavior of the mortals around him. He must pretend to be something he disdains and try to suppress his strongest urges in order to survive. To ease his thirst for blood, he must drink his secret elixir. Noticing that Stephen never seems to be without his blue bottle of “water,” Rafe and Alison begin to realize Stephen’s dependency on whatever fluid it contains. Stephen’s need for the elixir renders him vulnerable, and his dinner guests seek to use this vulnerability to their advantage. As Stephen sips from the bottle, Alison rather sarcastically remarks that the restaurant has water if he wants it. Stephen, however, is one step ahead of his foes. “Actually, Alison, this is a special blend,” he replies. Explaining that “it’s loaded with electrolytes” and “good for keeping the vocal cords hydrated,” he politely offers her some, which, of course, she fearfully refuses. |
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| Snappies of "Naked Eyes" scenes taken by A. Armstrong |
| Similarly, throughout the dinner, Stephen seems to know how Rafe and Alison will try to trip him up, so he lures them along, letting them think they have caught him, then outsmarts them, mocking them with his sardonic wit. For example, when the waitress comes to their table to tell them the evening’s specials, Stephen teases Rafe and Alison by saying he wants a steak “rare, blood rare.” Smirking at their conspiratorial glances, he then informs them that he’s a vegetarian and doesn’t “believe in killing things.” To prove his point, he orders a grilled vegetable dish; Elizabeth, following his lead, does the same, whereas Rafe, rather hypocritically, orders the steak (medium, or in other words, slightly bloody). Rafe apparently has a double standard, believing that it is all right for people to kill various other species for food, yet slays the vampires because they kill the human species for food.
The rest of their dinner conversation is reminiscent of a police interrogation, as Rafe grills Stephen about his background, and Stephen, blending sarcasm and charm, cleverly evades answering in any detail. Alison begins the questioning by asking whether Stephen ever finds his fame “annoying.” In response, Stephen explains that, being “a very private person,” he kept his identity a secret at first in order to avoid the fans, constant attention, and media circus; however, since his fans have been so good to him he thought they “deserve a concert.” “But no real gift is for free, right?” Rafe observes, referring to Stephen’s lyrics. “So you know the music,” Stephen smiles. “And I thought this whole time you only liked this vampire band.” “Again, my mistake,” Rafe concedes. |
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